Chain drive assembly



F. M. HAWLEY ET AL CHAIN DRIVE ASSEMBLY Aug, 23, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1943 w a a Aug. 23, '1949.

F. M. HAWLEY ET AL CHAIN DRIVE ASSEMBLY Filed May 19, 1945 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 23, 1949 CHAIN DRIVE ASSEMBLY Frank M. Hawley and Ralph E. Cherry, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Morse Chain Company, Ithaca, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 19, 1943, SeriaI No. 487,590

8 Claims.

7 1 This invention relates to timing chains and the like. More particularly, the invention is directed to an improved chain drive assembly for driving the cam shaft of a motor in timed relation to the crank shaft, whereby the valves of the motor are operated in the proper timing. In devices of the class described, it is ordinarily necessary to drive the cam shaft at a speed which carries a definite relationship to the speed of the crank shaft. Usually, in an ordinary fourcycle gasoline motor such as is used in an automobile, the speed of the cam shaft is one-half that of the crank shaft, that is, the crank makes two revolutions to each one for the cam shaft. Accordingly, it has in the past been a practice to drive the cam shaft with a chain drive or gear train in which the gear or sprocket on the cam shaft was twice the size of the gear or sprocket on the crank shaft, which in some instances necessitates an unusually wide front of the motor to accommodate the timing mechanism. More particularly is this true in the case of valve-inhead motors.

Among other reasons, in over-head valve motors, the distance between the cam shaft and the crank shaft makes it desirable to drive the x cam shaft with a chain means, whereas, heretofore timing chains have been difficult to use for the reasons that the chain has been very lengthy, difiicult to adjust to take up for slack. Further, timing chains that are quite long are subject to excessive wear under the action of centrifugal force.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned objectionable features in the use of timing chain.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dual chain construction by means of which it is possible to readily adjust the upper and lower timing chains simultaneously by a single adjustment. In this connection it is a feature to disclose an arangement in which two relatively short timing chains are used instead of ,a single long chain, and to disclose a device which can easily be adjusted to compensate for wear or lag due to any reason, by a single adjustment not requiring any particular skill.

It is an object to disclose a device in which the centrifugal force on each of the chains is low and the other forces acting on each chain are reduced or limited, and thus to provide a device which will provide better service for a longer period.

It is an object to provide a construction in which the timing cam shaft sprocket is relatively small, it being located near'the head of the motor 2 on a valve-in-head engine, and in which the more bulky portions of the device including the speed reduction sprockets are located in the lower sections of the motor, thus eliminating a need for a broad upper front, and thereby cleaning up u the appearance of the device.

It is also an object to provide an arrangement in which the crank shaft timing sprocket is connected to an offset adjustable idler sprocket driven on the same shaft with a second idler sprocket, the first idler .or speed reducing sprocket being twice the size of the second and likewise twice the size of the crank shaft sprocket, and in which the second idler sprocket is connected to the. camshaft sprocket by means of a separate timing chain. The first idler sprocket and crank shaft sprocket are operatively connected together in driving relationship by thus unnecessary to work inthe close quarters near the bottom of the motor (and usually closely behind the radiator) in the ordinary adjustments of the timing device.

It is another object of the invention to provide an arrangement in which the timing is accomshifting said crank arm about an axle to tighten or loosenthe. chains simultaneously.

It is, in short, an object'to provide an improved construction of timing chain assembly whereby the timing of a motor, such as the valve-in-head motor to which this construction is particularly applicable, is more, readily accomplished.

These and other objects and features of this invention will becomeapparent from the following specification whentaken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig.1 is a front elevational view of a timing chain arrangementfor a valve-in-head motor, the view being taken on line I-l of Figure 2;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side sectional view of the device of Fig. l, the view being on the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 lookingin the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the method of calculating the fulcrum of the bell crank and. radius of the are through which it moves to adjust both chains simultaneously.

Referring more in detail to the construction shownin the-*drawings, and =referr'mg first; to Figures laiiai idllftliere is provided i aj motofa ml, having the usual cam shaft 22 extending through the front wall 26 of said motor near thee top thereof, and likewise having a drive shaft 24 extending through said front wa1l '26.

Cam shaft 22 has, attachedto itsouter end-bymeans such as a plurality oflbolts orlthe-alike' fll, a timing gear or sprocket 32.' i- I-his::tiiriing@:gear

or sprocket 32 rotates withhthe. camlshaft 22 and is the means through vfl'iichpowefisafiplied to rotate the cam shaft 22. The timingsprocket 32 in turn is driven by a timing chain 34 which rotates at :its otherend-on anidler gear onsproeket 36. oOrdinarily the timinglchainffllhas teeth or ..,sp1 ocket engaging recesses whichmshiwitheteeth "-wn the sprockets 32 and 36.

The idler sprocket 36: rides. on .aniidlerishaftw, and said idler sprocket wismtegrany connected te-the idler sprocket}!ll hereinsometimes' referred to as largeidlersprocketebymeans.bf a machine bolt-42 -rthe l-ike. W'ithLthis arrangementf'the W idler -.sprocket=3fi rrotates was the idler 'Jsprocket -40-,-=and =both are. carried oni thelshaft 38 which in turn is cn' i'rriedtin thenmann-er,v indicated byf'the =-adjustable b'ellcrank lMf'IThis. can. crankfi' ld is jour-nalled -orra studs28, andsis rotatablyrmovable about said: stud inr an arcuat'emannerIiT litis held on the=stud-by any convenient means, such as by the washer and pinJh-iThe stud! alisi'pr'eferably th-readed intcithe body bf l'the' motor'lll'iand securely retainedtherein. s a --Refe1:ring -brieflyetdTiEig.- ,3;l"ith'errisaifidi'cated the method of deteri'i-iiii-ingfT the location; of the fulcrum-center forvthefstud'28. "TTheJ-amount of adjustment required forthechainsfie'pends fu'pon --the amount of'l'elong'ation bi Ichainein"the"strands g or: portions offpthecsprdckets. "lThusllthe require- -ment for adjustment of .ealchl 100p comprising chains 34 and JBZrmaY-Z be a'ssillnd .tb befilili'ctly proportional! to rthennufnber 'vofl' links; "511 tithe 1 sprockets in each. .lAssuminglthat-ithe l'owericl'iain 45 2 contains 72 linksor'pitch'es, and. thatgsprockets 64 and "40 contain respe'ctively'23iand i461t'eth; so :;-that there areflapproximat'ely links'lirfthe strand whichare riot on thgspr'ocketsif the "upper chain is-'a ssumedt-tolikewise cOntaifi'f'ZZ links with each sprocket 32 andi3fi havingf23:;teeth;f there K being approximately 4911 links; 61f "fthe sprockets --ir.g-the-u1:q aer.chain. KThe. extensionf'ofisprocket centereposition :orl adjustment .1 for L. jeachi wloop necessaryetoiabsorb wear will be in'i the ratio of 37 to 49, whichsmeansithatitheadjustment requirements for the ,upperichai1iQlfiill be approximately 130 iofithlowerichair-iffl. I, On, the

sprocket 32 to the initial center 10, and the radius of the are 68 being .100" greater than the radius from the center of sprocket 64 to the initial center 10. The arcs 66 and 68 will cross at the point I2.

5 A point located on the perpendicular bisector -.of the. centerline of .-the points-. 1ll. and 12 on the same side fasfjthe chain with 'fleast -number of links off the sprockets, and at a distance equal to ethe radius of the are through the points and 10 lZ will determine the location of the center of 'the stud fl. This will determine the location of theidlenshaftvonethe bell crank, which will be 'at thepoint'llfor initial movement and will move e-torthe vicini-tyof the point 12 in adjustment. Such 15 a system of calculating the position of the timing c-l faini'regai dle'ss of the number of. links ofi the sprocket and regardless of the length of each chain, will give a satisfactory adjusting movement eofethebellwcrank within,,the limits ,ofbnormal adjustment. I a l V ,7

- '1' A, bell'crank provides arhor-simplfiirafis of a'fiiistnient'bperation"than'-wouldbe'possiblewith a straightislidingniotion. "f Thi'ss'ame procedure ist'likewiseavailablawhere'the drive'bharactris- 1: ti s' causeunequal" wear*bf-the-gupper and"lower f chains; blltvVhI'BWhitid or wear-is known. Other sprocket 'cnmbinationsi likewfsef may be usedfandthe'" ositionscalculatedfas readily.

"TR'eferring' again tdFigures FahdZfithbell 'fcrank 44 is'provided attiitspthewendivvltma bolt engaging 'pcrtion;ihere'i1rfqrg'purpose' creamy 1 referred toi as jaw' 'ifl. 3 The rjaw -fiflien'g'ages the adjustment bolt' 52";'which-has a; surrounding" :holi'lcwithr'eaded sleeveffil. "flThe innei end' r sleeve 54 ,is 'spacedi'from'. bolt head il & iand 's'aid 'bolt 52 is adj ustablyfsecured --'thej"s leeve*by ricknut '53 ?as' sh0Wn-"iIiT 'ig. .1. "*"This effects an: adjust- 1 able 'assembly'jhaving arrannular channel at" its 'inner region" inside; the musi g-w *receivefj aw 40 I off the bell crank; which channel maybe varied in dimensiori"totake pare 0f -We'a1 0fs'tructural variations as well as to operate'f'-the'-'bell'-=crank 'tovti'ghtenbi'l'loosen "thdi'chains'fjandrFall" of -these functions may fbe .;ac,complished-= without requir- 45 Zing accessto"the"irrterio15iof the-housing. This rthreaded;"'sleeve54:=ispreferably *mou'nted" by iithrea'ding itiinto m extending-1forwardly*from "the lmotorfsuch as the? "1115 556. "1 'I'histlug5&;may be either, a" part'j'offth'mOlZOiiitSEIffOr a; part of so the housing consisting fo'fithecovefplatesba and 6 llforming the "protective cover "for- 'th'tiining a, chain assembly. Preferablythe sleeve member 54 threadedgintoz aTp'ortiombf -the motor-block proper and extends fat 'its upper ehddutSidefthe 55 cover or housing,tscithat.it= will%be'solidiwillnot 'shift'with'respect to thiStlldZflWaifld may be turned"fori gadjustmentt? without removing tm 'coverrpl'at'es.

The: sleeve '35 4" may 'be threadediiir or, out of its; position as shotvnin, E euret ,1;andvth y ;theicrank arm" "44 'wlll befmoved "arcuately fabout :the stud?28,?shiftingfthe position of -the idler ,TSh'aft '3Bfi'w'ith itsid1e11'gears'34 landfill; and'there- .by shortening 'or' lenethe'ningthe",center to center positionsbetweenijthe center "of"thidrive shaft 24 and thejidler ,s'haft'i,38; ;and the centeriof the camshaft 22 andl'theiiidlier..shaft' 38. i It is thus seen '.that movement, 'oflthe 1 jaw portion 50 '.up-

wardlytby, threadi nglthe"v sleeve i lgto, thi left will shift the idler gearsxto the .rightgand lc'orrespondingly tighten both timing chainssimultaneously. Thee-timing .chaimmay. ,be .loosened by movement .of the sleeve filinltheiotherldirectionbyethreading itdownwardly. ITI'hisme'ansT thatitheitimi s cli'ai1i34, may be readily removed and'adjusted or the engine torn down or otherwise worked on in its head portion without disconnecting the timing chain 62, thereby making it easy to time the motor again Without worrying about the adjustment of the timing chain 62. It is noted that the timing chain 62 is driven by the sprocket 64 on the drive shaft 24, which sprocket is keyed or otherwise fixed to the drive shaft to rotate therewith, and it is further noted that the timing chain 62 and sprocket M are located in close quarters and ordinarily should not be disconnected if it can be avoided.

The above construction represents a new approach to the timing of valve-in-head motors, in particular, and will eliminate several serious objections to the valve-in-head motor. By use of the timing chain arrangement here disclosed, long gear trains are eliminated, the timing chain is accurate and quiet in the length necessary to use with the arrangement herein disclosed, and the system is rugged and ordinarily will not get out of adjustment. It will therefore remain in time even when there is adjustment of the chains, accomplished by adjustment of the sleeve 54 and crank arm 44 as above described. Further, the

. front of the engine may be reduced in size near the head by using such a gear as the gear 32, while the large idler gear is placed near the center of the front or below the center. The advantages of this arrangement are obvious.

While we have described our invention in connection with one specific embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and the scope of our invention is defined solely by the appended claims which should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.

We claim:

1. In combination with a motor having housing means, drive shaft, and valve operating cam shaft, said drive shaft and cam shaft having fixed axes of a timing means comprising a driving sprocket attached to and driven by said drive shaft, a cam shaft sprocket attached to and driving said cam shaft, a bell crank mounted for arcuate movement between said drive shaft sprocket and said cam shaft sprocket, an enlarged idler sprocket carried by said bell crank and positioned on said bell crank for arcuated movement thereby, a second idler sprocket drivingly attached to said first idler sprocket and of reduced size with respect thereto. adjusting means meeting with an arm of said bell crank and extending to the outside of said housing, said adjusting means comprising a threaded sleeve mounted on said housing and extending through said housing to the outside thereof, and a bolt in said threaded sleeve and arranged with its head inside said housing in engagement with said bell crank, whereby threading said threaded sleeve into and out of said housing moves said bell crank arcuately about its mounting, and a plurality of timing chains, one of which is mounted in driving relation on said drive shaft sprocket and said first mentioned large idler gear sprocket and another of said chains is mounted between said cam shaft sprocket and said second mentioned idler sprocket, the arrangement being such that movement of said bell crank about its mounting by adjustment of the sleeve tensions the timing chains substantially uniformly without changing the fixed axes of said drive shaft and cam shaft.

2. In combination, a driving shaft and a driven shaft, said shafts having fixed axes, a housing I generally intermediate said drive shaft and driven shaft, sprockets of substantially equal size on said drive shaft and driven shaft, adjustable means carried by said stub shaft comprising an arm radial to said stub shaft and an actuator coacting with said arm, intermediate sprocket means comprising two integral sprockets, one of which is larger than the drive and driven shafts sprockets, and the other of which is substantially the same size as the drive and driven shaft sprockets, said integral sprockets carried by said adjustable means and arcuately movable about said stub shaft by said actuator, the centers of said sprockets being movable on an are about said stub shaft which are passes through substantially the points of intersection of arms about the fixed axis of the drive shaft and the fixed axis of the driven shaft respectively, chain means from said drive sprocket to the larger one of said intermediate sprockets and a second chain means from the other intermediate sprocket to said driven sprocket, said last mentioned arms having radii substantially equal to the distances from the respective fixed axis of the drive and driven shafts to the centers of the intermediate sprockets plus the respective adjustment requirements for the chains from the drive and driven sprockets to the intermediate sprockets.

3. In combination, a driving shaft and a driven shaft having axes fixed with relation to each other, a housing means, a stub shaft mounted in said housing generally intermediate said drive shaft and driven shaft, sprockets of substantially equal size on said drive shaft and driven shaft, adjustable means carried by said stub shaft com prising an arm radial to said stub shaft and an actuator coacting with said arm, intermediate sprocket means comprising two integral sprockets, one of which is larger than the drive and driven shafts sprockets, and the other of which is substantially the same size as the drive and driven shaft sprockets, said integral sprockets carried by said adjustable means and arcuately movable about said stub shaft by said actuator,

5 thecenters of said sprockets being movable on an arc about said stub shaft which arc passes through substantially the points of intersection of ar'cs about the fixed axis of the drive shaft and the fixed axis of the driven shaft respectively, chain means from said drive sprocket to the larger one of said intermediate sprockets and a second chain means from the other intermediate sprocket to said driven sprocket, said last mentioned arms having radii substantially equal to the distances from the respective fixed axes of the drive and driven shafts to the centers of the intermediate sprockets plus the respective adjustment requirements for the chains from the drive and driven sprockets to the intermediate sprockets, and means carried by said housing for actuating the adjustable means and thereby causing the intermediate sprockets to move through an arc tightening the chains.

4. In combination, a driving shaft and a driven shaft having axes fixed with relation to each othmeans, astub shaft-mounted in said housing sprockets, and the other of which is substantially tlrie 4 same isiZe :ras -the "drive :and driven shaft sprockets, .s'aid iintegralxsprockets carried by: said adju'stable 'means and arcuatelysmovable about "said-stubby saidactuatorshaft, the :centers of -said sprocketsbeingsmovable.on an are about said stu'b shaft'which arc passes through substantially 'the points ofintersection of arcs about the fixed axes of the drivelshaftland the fixedaxes of the 'driven'shaft respecti'velygchain means from said --drivefsprocket to theilarger one of said intermediate sprockets'andia-second .chain meansfrom the other intermediate sprocket to said driven 7 sprocket, said last I mentioned arms having radii substantially :equal to the distances from the res'pectivefixed axes of'the drive'and driven shafts to the centers'lof the intermediate sprockets plus the respectiveiadjustmentrequirements for the chains from the drive-and driven sprockets to the-intermediate sprockets,iand means carried by said housing' foractuating the adjustable means and thereby causing the intermediate sprockets to m'ove'through an'arc tightening the chains,

"said actuating means extending outside the housing' wlierebyit isioperated :outside the said housin'g means.

5. 'In a chain drive assembly, a driving sprocket mountediorrotation about a fixed axis, a driven sprocket likewise mounted'for rotation about a 'fi xed-axisrernoved'from said first mentionedaxis, a'pair of intermediatersprockets operatively'lconnected together in driving relationship and mounted for 'rotationTaboutiamovable axis which is' mountedfor arcuate movement about a fixed center only slightlylaterally spaced from a plane connecting said 'fixed axes whereby movement. of

"said movable axis inionei'direction' will, by a tog- "gle action, substantially lengthen the distance between the axis of saidldriving sprocket and the movable axis and simultaneously substantially 'len'gthenthe d'istancebetvveen the axis .ofsaid driven" sprocket and said 'movable axisgadriving 'chainconnecting said vdrivingsprocket with one of said intermediate sprockets, a driving chain connecting 1 said "driven: sprocket with the other direction.

6."In a speed-changedrive' assembly, a driving sprocket mounted forrot'ation' about a'fixed axis,

"28 saxis,Hai-pairwnintermediate;sprockets .operatively connected -;together tin tdriving relationship and. :mounted Jor :rotation :about :a movable axis mountedfor arc-uatemovementabout.a fixed con- 5 :ter, ca driving :rchain iconnecting :said driving "sprockets-with enact-said intermediate sprockets, driving :chaimconnecting: saidtdriven sprocket with the..otherzintermediate sprocket, said fixed :eenter zbeingaonlysslightly laterally spaced: from 10 :a; planetconnecti-ngt-the fixedaaxisz of said driving sprocket- -with.zthe. movableaaxis of vsaidiintermediate sprockets when the latter areso positioned as to: maintain :said chains substantially A taut whereby :movementaof saidamovable axis in one -7direction will vby 6.31 -tog 1e -;-action substantially lengthen the distances-between the .axis of said *ldrivingsprockemand the .movable axis and simultaneouslyasubstantially lengthenthe distance between-l the3XiS-T0f S2iiddIiVBI1z sprocket and, said vqmovableaxis, andmeans for moving said'movable axis-ninits:arcuatapatlt in. eitherdirection.

e8..- In :achain .driveassembly, a driving sprocket mounted fon rotationaabout a fixedaxis, a driven sprockets-likewise mounted. .for. rotation. about a 5 fixed-axis removed fromsaidifirst'mentioned axis,

- a pair,otzintermediate:sprockets. operatively conmected together -.-in driving :relatlonship and vmounted i-forlrotation about a movable axis mountediforiarcuate movement about afixed ceni ter, a driving chain- .-connecting -.-said .driving procket with one. oi said-intermediate sprockets,

a .driving chain connectinglsaidi driven sprocket s-with the..-othe1:. intermediate.- sprocket, said fixed .zcenter being-located inaa-region determined by 1 ascertaining: the intersection, of- :an arc described aboutzithetaxis oflsaid drlving. shaft with an are described abouts-the axisooftsaid. driven shaft on radii having increments of length-respectively equal tothanormal distancebetween said driv- 401mg shaft. and the norm'alposition. of said movaibleshaft wheniboth chainsareataut and the nor- .rmaldistanceLbetween .said..,driven.- shaft and said normal, position, ,plus .additionali increments of length respectively whichare-proportional to the intermediate sprocketgand means for adjusting: 45. respective lengths off-the straight=awayportions said movable axisiin its arcuate path in"; either :of. said first and secondmentioned chains, whereby movement. ofsaidlmovable. axis -in one direction will, .by a-tog'glei.action,l.lengthen..the dis- .tance .between. theiaxis. oft said driving sprocket "a drivensprocketlikewise mounted; for rotation-i and them-ovableaxis andsimultaneously lengthabout a'fixed axis removed from said firstmem tioned axis,-a'pair of'intermediate sprockets operatively connected together in' driving relationship and mounted" for rotation'about aimov'able .en--themdistance betweenthe axis. of said driven sprocket. ,and :saidamov'ablei .axis...to compensate equally for. wear..in.-connection with-both of said chains, andimeanslfor moving said movable axis axis mounted for arcuate movement'bi an aunt .in itsv arcuateipatlrin eitherdirection.

pivoted about a 'fixed' center only slightly laterally'spaced from a'plane connecting saidfixed axes, the line joining said movable axis" and said "fixed center extending generally parallel to said 3 FRANK. M. HAWLEY. i -RALPH 1E.- TCHERRY.

:REEERENCESICITED plane whereby said arcuate' movement ofsaidi'so The following." references are" of; record in the movableaxis in'onedirection will by a toggle action substantially'lengthen' the distance between the axis of said driving sprocket and the'movable axis and substantially lengthen the distance betweenthe axisof said driven sprocket: and said movable axis, a driving chain'connectingsaid driving sprocket with one of said intermediate sprockets, a driving chain connecting. said driven sprocket with the other intermediate sprocket,

and means for moving said movableaxis: in its" arcuate pathin' either direction.

'7. In a chain drive assembly; a driving sprocket mounted for rotation about afixed axis; a-driven sprocket likewisemounted' for rotation" about a -"fixedaxis removed from saidzfirst mentioned; fixed file bf this patent:

I UNITED "STATES: PATENTS 

